Automatic back cleaner and massager



Jan. 26, 1937. v. MISHELLE AUTOMATIC BACK CLEANER AND MASSAGER Filed June 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 26, 1937.. v. MISHELLE AUTOMATIC BACK CLEANER AND MASSAGER Filed June 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNHTD STTES FATE T OFFICE AUTOMATIC BACK CLEANER AND MASSAGER 8 Claims.

My invention relates to an automatic back cleaning and massaging apparatus and has for its principal object, the provision of a relatively simple, practical and inexpensive apparatus that is designed to be set into the wall of a bathroom or the like and which apparatus is provided with a plurality of brushes or applicators that are reciprocated for the purpose of cleaning and massaging the back of the user.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a device of the character referred to wherein reciprocatory movement is imparted to the brushes or applicators through the medium of an impeller that is driven by water pressure.

A further object of my invention is, to provide simple and eflicient means whereby the rotary motion of the impeller is converted into reciprocatory movement and transmitted to the brushes or applicators and which latter project through 20 the front wall of the apparatus so as to directly engage the back of the user.

A further object of my invention is to provide simple and eflicient means for supplying hot and cold water to the brushes or applicators and to control the temperature of the water so delivered.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and. claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

7 Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my improved back cleaner and massager and showing the same installed in the wall of a bathroom.

5 Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken approximately on the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

i Fig. 3 is an elevational view partly in section 7 taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line Fig. 5 is an elevational View of the means employed for imparting reciprocatory movement to the brushes or applicators and said view being taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a form of applicator that may be utilized for imparting massage to the back of the user.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, In designates a substantially rectangular housing preferably formed of sheet metal and open front and rear.

Projecting at right angles from the front edges of the walls of the housing, is a flange H, which when the apparatus is installed, engages directly against the face of the wall and being anchored thereto in any suitable manner.

Detachably applied to the outer face of flange 5 l i, is a rectangular frame l2, and projecting outwardly from the inner edge thereof, is a flange l 3.

Projecting inwardly at right angles from the rear edges of the four walls of the housing, are flanges l4 and hinged to one side of the housing is a door I5, which normally closes the rear open end of the housing.

Secured to the inner face of the door l5, just above the lower one of the flanges I4, is a horizontally disposed inclined plate 16 that is intended to deflect water that passes downwardly on the inner face of the door, into the bottom of the housing.

Formed in the lower portion of flange 13, at the bottom of the frame [2, are apertures such as I1, 20 which permits any water that may accumulate in the bottom of the housing to drain outwardly and. discharge onto the floor of the bathroom.

The housing I0 is positioned between a pair of the upright wall studs and said housing is supported by legs or frames l8 that rest on a transverse member [9 that is positioned between and secured to the wall studs.

Arranged in the center of the chamber within housing If], is a housing 20, preferably of cast metal, and projecting from. the sides thereof, are brackets 2| that are detachably secured to the side Walls of housing [0.

Formed in the rear portion of housing 20, is a circular chamber 22 and mounted for rotation therein is an impeller 23, provided on its periphery with a series of blades or vanes 24.

The lower end of a tube 25 is secured to the wall of the housing surrounding chamber 23 to one side of the vertical plane that intersects the center of the chamber so as to discharge a jet of water directly against the vanes 24.

This tube projects through the top of housing l9 and located in said tube a short distance above the housing, is a valve 28. This valve is operated by means of a handle 2'! that is mounted on a rod 28, the latter passing through the wall above the housing and its rear end being detachably connected to the stem of valve 26. Tube 25 beyond valve 26 is connected to a suitable source of water under pressure.

Connected to the lower portion of housing 20 and at the bottom of the chamber 22 therein, is a waste pipe 29.

Chamber 22, that is occupied by the impeller, is

closed by a plate 30 that is detachably secured to the wall of housing 2!] surrounding chamber 22 and seated in the center of this plate, is a bearing 3| preferably of bronze that receives a stud or pintle 32 that projects from the center of impeller 23.

Formed in the front portion of housing 20, is a substantially rectangular chamber 33, the front of which is closed by a removable plate 34.

Formed integral with impeller 23 on the opposite side from stud. 32, is a concentrically arranged stud 35 that is arranged for rotation in a bearing 36 of bronze or the like and which bearing is seated in the wall of housing 29 between the chambers 22 and 33.

Formed integral with the face of a concentric stud 35 is an eccentrically arranged wrist pin 31 that projects into the chamber 33.

Journaled on the eccentric wrist pin 3?, is the lower end of a link 38 and the upper end of said link is pivotally connected to a cross head 39 that is located in the upper portion of chamber 33.

The ends of cross head 39 are secured by means of set screws 41 to vertically disposed rods 4! that are mounted for reciprocatory movement through bearings formed in the walls of housing 28 above and below chamber 33.

Seated in the bearings that are formed on the wall of housing 26, below chamber 33, and surrounding the rods 4!, are washers d2 of leather, fiber or analagous material that is impregnated with lubricant and arranged on said rods at between said washers and the ends of cross head 39, are expansive coil springs 43. These coil springs are designed to function as cushions for the reciprocating rods M, to render their movement smooth and free from vibration, particularly after they change direction of movement at the ends of their travel.

Carried by the upper and lower ends of the reciprocating rods 4!, are forwardly projecting horizontally disposed frames 44 and journaled in the forward portions of these frames, are the ends of vertically disposed rods 35 and each rod carrying a cylindrical brush 46, preferably formed of bristles.

In some instances and particularly for massage purposes, the rods 45 carry cylindrical members 41, preferably formed of rubber and projecting from the periphery thereof, are small flexible studs or fingers 48 (see Fig. 7)

The front portion of the lower one of the frames 44, is divided longitudinally, as illustrated in Fig. 6 and the front part is detachably secured to the rear part by means of screws 39, thus enabling the lower ends of the shafts 85 to be readily positioned in their bearings.

Detaohably secured to the removable plate 3 3, that closes the chamber 33, is a plate 59 preferably of sheet metal, that is positioned immediately to the rear of the brush bodies 46 and suitably secured to the sides, top and bottom of this plate is a tube 5i. This tube is, on its front side, perforated, as designated by 52, in order to direct jets of water forwardly against the brush bodies while the device is in operation.

Connected to the upper horizontal leg of tube 55, are hot and col-d water supply pipes such as 53, each being provided with a valve such as 54, and said valves being operated by handles 55 that are attached to the forward ends of the valve stems. These valve stems project through suitable bearings that are seated in the wall structure immediately above the housing, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The operation of my improved back washer and massager is as follows:

Water or other fluid under pressure is permitted to flow through tube 25 by the opening of valve 26 and the force of this fluid acting on the vanes 2d rotates the impeller 23 and the fluid after passing partway around the inner periphery of the housing surrounding chamber 22, discharges through waste pipe 29.

As the impeller is thus rotated, the eccentric wrist pin 3'! through link 38, imparts reciprocatory movement to cross head 39 and the rods 4| so as to move same vertically through their bearings in the upper and lower portion of housing 20.

Thus the frames ie carrying the brushes 46 will be reciprocated vertically.

Valves 54 may be opened to permit hot and cold water to enter and pass through tube 5i and this Water tempered to the desired degree by the adjustment of the valves, is discharged forwardly onto the end portions of the reciprocating brushes and if the force of the water is sufficient the brushes will be rotated simultaneously with their reciprocating movement.

The user of the device stands in such a position as to permit the reciprocating brushes to make contact with the back and by moving the body a short distance upwardly and downwardly and from side to side the entire back will be engaged by the moving brushes and thoroughly cleansed in a short time.

Any water from the jet openings in the tube 5| that accumulates in the bottom of the housing will discharge through the openings I! in frame 53.

During the back cleaning operation, the movement of the brushes while in contact with the back imparts massage thereto and if it is desired to utilize the apparatus for massaging purposes only, the valves 54 are closed to cut off the flow of water through the perforate-d tube 5|.

If desired the brushes 44 may be readily removed from their supporting frames and massaging members of rubber or other flexible material substituted therefor. These massaging members may be of the type illustrated in Fig. 7,

wherein an elastic or flexible body is provided on its periphery with short flexible studs or fingers or the surfaces on said massaging members may be ribbed or corrugated.

In the use of the apparatus for massaging purposes, the applicators are eifective in materially increasing the blood flow through the muscles and tissues of the back, thus stimulating the nerve forces and particularly the forces of those nerves within and adjacent the spinal column.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a back cleaning and massaging device that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended,

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved automatic back cleaner and massager may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a back cleaner and massager, a housing provided in its front wall with an opening, a plurality of cylindrical applicators mounted for a vertical reciprocatory movement within the housing, portions of which applicators project through the opening in the front wall thereof, means within the housing to the rear of the opening for spraying liquid forwardly through the opening in said housing, a fluid pressure motor within the housing and driving connections between said motor and said applicators.

2. In a back cleaner and massager, a housing provided in its front wall with an opening, a plurality of cylindrical applicators mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement within the housing, portions of which applicators project through the opening in the front wall thereof, means within the housing to the rear of the opening for spraying liquid forwardly through the opening in said housing, a motor within the housing, driving connections between said motor and said applicators and means extending into said housing for supplying fiuid pressure to said motor.

3. In a back cleaner and massager, a housing provided in its front wall with an opening, a plurality of cylindrical applicators mounted for independent rotary movement and for simultaneous vertical reciprocatory movement within said housing, a fluid pressure motor within said housing and driving connections between said motor and said applicators for imparting reciprocatory movement thereto.

4. In a back cleaner and massager, a housing provided in its front wall with an opening, a plurality of applicators mounted for independent rotary movement and for simultaneous reciprocatory movement within said housing, a motor within said housing, driving connections between said motor and said applicators for imparting reciprocatory movement thereto and means extending into the housing and disposed around and to the rear of said applicators for supplying liquid thereto.

5. In a back cleaner and massager, a housing provided in one of its walls with an opening, a plate fixedly mounted within the housing to the rear of said opening, a plurality of applicators mounted for rotary and reciprocatory movement in front of said plate, portions of which applicators project through the opening in the housing and a perforated liquid supply tube surrounding said plate.

6. In a back cleaner and massager, a housing provided in one of its walls with an opening, a plate fixedly mounted within the housing to the rear of said opening, a plurality of applicators mounted for rotary and reciprocatory movement in front of said plate, portions of which applicators project through the opening in the housing a plate fixed to said second mentioned housing to the rear of said applicators, a fluid pressure actuated perforated liquid supply tube surrounding said plate, a motor arranged for operation within the housing and driving connections between said motor and said applicators.

7. In a back cleaner and massager, a housing provided in one of its walls with an opening, a second housing arranged within said first mentioned housing, a frame mounted for reciprocatory movement on said second mentioned housing, a plurality of applicators carried by said frame, portions of which applicators project through the opening in the first mentioned housing, a motor arranged for operation within said second mentioned housing and driving connections between said motor and said frame.

8. In a back cleaner and. massager, a housing provided in one of its walls with an opening, a second housing arranged within said first mentioned housing, a frame mounted for reciprocatory movement on said second mentioned housing, a plurality of applicators carried by said frame, portions of which applicators project through the opening in the first mentioned housing, a plate fixed to said second mentioned housing to the rear of said applicators, a motor arranged for operation within said second mentioned housing, driving connections between said motor and said frame and means extending into the first mentioned housing for supplying liquid to said applicators.

VICTOR MISHELLE. 

